»\ 



w 



CENTEl 



Wir 












MDCCCLXXJ 




Class ___ 



DOBELL COLLECTION 




7 ^/y 




■ 







TH E PESIGKS 





205449 
'13 




•' 



f «fatorj| got*. 



CENTENARY OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. 




'ITHSTANDING the great increase 

ich lias taken place in works of fiction, 

the large number of successful aspirants 

fame which that department of literature 

works of Sir Walter Scott still 

remain in the first rank of books widely sold and read, 

and his name dwells with us as freshly as it did with his 

contemporaries. No single writer of any age did for his 

country nobler work than Scott achieved for his. He 

invested the history and romance of Scotland with the 

charmed interest they now possess, and made the names of 

her mountains and lakes household words to the civilised 

world. This being the Centenary Year of the birth of our 

greatest Novelist, Messrs BALLANTYNE & Company trust 

that the following sketch may not be without interest, as it 

exhibits the commercial history and success of his various 

works, and the connection which so long existed between the 

illustrious author of 'Waverley' and The Bali. antv.nl 

Press. 



Edinburgh 1871. 




»-^? 



'U 



- 





^ 



trvQ^\fe^C>^-gff^^^ [J& 



Vj--*" 




HE history of the Ballantyne Press is 
associated with the most brilliant period 
of Scottish literature. During the later 
years of the last, and the early part of 
the present century, while Byron, Wordsworth, Coleridge, and 
a host of others, were making their splendid contributions to 
English literature, there existed in Edinburgh a society of litte- 
rateurs who have become world famous. Jeffrey, Cockburn, 
Brougham, Christopher North, Dugald Stewart, Hogg, Horner, 
Abercrombie, Jameson, Lockhart, and many others — though, 
individually, some of them might scarcely compare with their 
English contemporaries — formed a coterie which had for its 
nucleus the author of his age — Sir Walter Scott. The lite- 
rary prestige which the northern capital acquired in the days of 
"Waverley" and the "Edinburgh Review" has been well main- 
tained, although in these later times the great capital of the 
nation absorbs her most illustrious men. 

It was during the period referred to, and by the aid of its 
famous patron, that the Ballantyne Press first earned its repu- 
tation. Scott and Ballantyne were, in 1783, boys of about the 
same age at the grammar school of Kelso ; and their youthful 
acquaintance was destined to develop into a lifetime of business 
relationship and firm friendship. In 1796, James Ballantyne had 
established himself at Kelso, where he edited and printed the 
Mail newspaper. This being only a weekly publication, he became 
desirous to engage in some literary enterprise which might employ 



■-M-t-]--N,.lt-l:..| J-.1-.1 j -i 1 ,)1 l-l J l I 1 1 II. M I E ffi, 




^11 




A, 



m 



-^fi 



-If~<Sto gaUfttUttw ^tfMW^ 
1799-1802. 

his press during the intervening days, and in this he was assisted 
by his old friend and schoolfellow. 

In 1799, when Scott was at Rosebank, Ballantyne begged him to 
supply a few paragraphs on some legal questions of the day for his 
newspaper. Scott complied ; and, carrying his manuscript to the 
printing-office, showed Ballantyne some metrical translations he 
had made from the German of Burger, suggesting that he should 
print as many of them as were necessary to make a pamphlet of 
sufficient extent to enable his Edinburgh acquaintances to judge 
of his typography. Ballantyne assented, and printed twelve copies 
of " William and Ellen," " The Fire-King, " "The Chase," and a 
few others, with the title of "Apology for Tales of Terror. " 

This first specimen of this Press, afterwards so celebrated, was 
thoroughly satisfactory to Scott, and he said to Ballantyne — "I 
have been for years collecting old Border Ballads, and I think I 
could, with little trouble, put together such a selection from them 
as might make a neat little volume. I will talk to some of the 
booksellers about it when I get to Edinburgh, and if the thing 
goes on, you shall be the printer." Ballantyne was delighted 
with the proposal ; and the result of this experiment changed the 
whole course of his fortunes, as well as those of his friend. 

The "neat little volume" alluded to grew in the hands of Scott 
into the "Border Minstrelsy," the first two volumes of which were 
printed by Ballantyne in 1802. The edition consisted of eight 
hundred copies, fifty of which were on large paper. It was disposed 
of in the course of the year ; and the terms of publication having 
been that Scott should receive half the clear profits, his share 
amounted to ^78, 10s. When the book appeared, the imprint, 
" Kelso," was read with wonder by connoisseurs of typography, 
who had probably never heard of such a place, and were 




'±M 






/ ■» tgfo flaK&nUw #rf0# -f^V 



1802-1B03. 






astonished at the specimen of handsome printing which so ob- 
scure a town had produced : it was received with the exclamation, 
"What a beautiful book !" 

The approbation which the first two volumes of the "Min- 
strelsy" elicited, stimulated Scott to fresh diligence in the pre- 
paration of a third, while "Sir Tristrem" — it being then settled 
that this romance should form a separate volume — was transmitted 
without delay to the printer at Kelso. Scott had suggested to 
B.illantyne that he should remove his establishment to Edinburgh, 
and in March 1802, Ballantyne wrote to him — "I can never be 
sufficiently grateful for the interest you unceasingly take in my 
welfare. Your query respecting Edinburgh, I am yet at a loss to 
answer. To say truth, the expenses I have incurred to acquire a 
character for elegant printing, whatever might be the result, cramp 
considerably my present exertions." Towards the end of the 
year, however, Ballantyne removed to Edinburgh, finding in the 
neighbourhood of Holyrood House accommodation for his then 
limited establishment of "two presses and a proof one." In these 
obscure premises some of the most beautiful productions of 
"The Border Press" were printed. 

When the third volume was published in April 1803, Scott 
wrote to Ballantyne — " I have to thank you for the accuracy with 
which the ' Minstrelsy' is thrown off. Longman and Rees are 
delighted with the printing." The new edition of the first two 
volumes consisted of one thousand copies, and of Vol. III. there 
were fifteen hundred printed. Five other editions followed — 
the sixth being printed in 1820. The work was soon translated 
into German, Danish, and Swedish, and was subsequently in- 
corporated in various editions of Scott's Collected Poetry. The 
' Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border" has thus become naturalised 



IV:: 






i^J 



Na-,) 



m 



f 






m 



f'foj 



>V-j 



!->! 



-7: )g^ 



- — 




1804-1805. 



among nations themselves rich in similar treasures of legendary 
lore. 

"Sir Tristrem" was published in May 1804, by Constable ; who 
expected so little popularity for the work, that the edition consisted 
of one hundred and fifty copies only, and sold at the high price 
of two guineas. But, in due time, the work had its share of 
the celebrity attached to the name of its editor. Scott never 
anticipated pecuniary profit from the publication ; but it served 
to maintain, if not to raise, his reputation in the circle of his 
fellow-antiquaries. 

The "Lay of the Last Minstrel" was published in January 1805 ; 
and its success decided that literature should form the main 
occupation of Scott's life. His labours, up to this date, had in- 
augurated a new era in the history of Scottish poetry. The " Lay" 
appeared in the shape of a splendid quarto volume, and was greeted 
with unbounded applause. Whatever might have been the Author's 
expectations, they were far exceeded by the result. In the history 
of British poetry nothing had ever equalled the demand for the 
" Lay of the Last Minstrel;" nearly forty-four thousand copies 
being disposed of before 1830. 

Shortly after the publication of the "Lay," Ballantyne found 
his capital inadequate to meet the business which was flowing 
to his Press, in consequence of the reputation it had acquired 
for correctness and beauty of execution. He applied to his great 
patron for assistance, and Scott assented, on condition of his 
becoming partner with Ballantyne, and having a third share in 
the profits of the establishment. This arrangement, effected 
in 1805, was kept strictly private. Attracted by Ballantyne's 
superior taste, and the beauty of his workmanship, Scott made 
it a point from the first, that whatever he wrote or edited should 



V 





"-■ W 



I B?X>^Si>fe<>^^f^^ 



be printed at the Ballantyne Press ; and his personal con- 
nexion with it stimulated his inventive genius directly and in- 
directly, to add to the already rapidly growing establishment. 

In April 1805, Scott wrote to his partner—" I have imagined 
a very superb work. What think you of an edition of British 
poets, ancient and modern?" This edition he proposed to edit 
for thirty guineas a volume. The scheme was abandoned from 
his inability to get any of the leading booksellers of the day to 
take the wide and comprehensive view of it which was alone 
congenial to his mind. But it is, perhaps, not without interest 
to know that, if not so complete in all respects as Scott would 
have desired, a Library Edition of the British Poets, begun in 
1853, has issued from the Ballantyne Press, in forty-eight 
demy 8vo volumes, in every respect worthy of its reputation. 

During the years 1806 and 1807, Scott was engaged on his 
edition of Dryden, and "Marmion" was begun. For this latter 
work, while still in its initiatory stage, Constable offered the hand- 
some sum of one thousand guineas, which was accepted. It was 
published in February 1808, as a splendid quarto volume, price 
one guinea and a-half. The edition — two thousand copies — was 
disposed of in less than a month, when a second of two thousand 
copies, in 8vo, was put to press. A third and fourth edition, each 
of three thousand copies, followed in 1809. Edition after edition 
rapidly appeared, and up to the period of the Collected Edition 
of Scott's Poetical Works, thirty-one thousand copies had been 
disposed of. Lockhart, in his Life of Scott, estimates the sale, up 
to the period he wrote, May 1836, at fifty thousand copies. 

The Edinburgh Review made its first appearance in October 
1802, and Lord Cockburn remarks, in his " Life of Jeffrey," that 
"the effect was electrical." Scott had no- political sympathies 



m.D:l.'.r-.l:|.J;.-M^|:.UhKL-.lulr4-tl.J;^J-'|--N--lJ-l..l-J.J^ 




m 



Mk 



im 




with the young reformers, Allen, Smith, Jeffrey, Brown, Brougham, 
Murray, Seymour, Thomson, and others, under whose magical 
influence this spirited undertaking started on its brilliant career, 
but he was one of the original contributors to its pages. A cold- 
ness ensued between Scott and Jeffrey, in consequence of Jeffrey's 
criticism on " Marmion ;" and from this cause, aided, no doubt, 
by political reasons, Scott's connexion with the Review ceased. 
The work, from its commencement, long continued to be printed 
at the Ballantyne Press. 

In April 1808, William Miller, of Albemarle Street, published 
an edition of the Works of John Dryden, in eighteen volumes, 
edited by Scott, and for which the latter received the sum of ^756. 
The speculation was at the time regarded as a bold one, but it must 
have been a success, as the entire work was reprinted in 1821. 

Scott at this time also suggested the publication of the Quar- 
terly Review, to counteract the supposed revolutionary tendencies 
of the Edinburgh. Of this latter Review he writes to George 
Ellis, November 2, 1808 — "Nine thousand copies are printed 
quarterly, and no genteel family can pretend to be without it, 
because, independent of its politics, it gives the only valuable 
literary criticism which can be met with. Consider, of the 
numbers who read this work, how many are likely to separate the 
literature from the politics ! " 

" Queenhoo Hall," in 4 vols., Carleton's " Memoirs of the 
War of the Spanish Succession," and the Memoir of Robert 
Carr, Earl of Monmouth, published in 1808, and Sadler's Life 
and State Papers, 3 vols. 4to, published in 1809, followed by the 
Somers Tracts, in 13 vols. 4to, were all edited by Scott, and 
printed by Ballantyne. 

In May 1810, the " Lady of the Lake" appeared, perhaps the 



•'Hi 








t 



1810-1812. 

most popular of all his poems. For the copyright of this, Scott 
received two thousand guineas. The first edition, in quarto, 
consisted of two thousand and fifty copies, and "disappeared 
instantly," and was followed, in the same year, by four other 
editions in octavo — one of three thousand, one of three thousand 
two hundred and fifty, and two of six thousand each. In the fol- 
lowing year, there was an edition of three thousand ; in 18 14, one 
of two thousand ; in 1815, another of two thousand ; in 18 18, 
again another of two thousand ; and in 1825, two editions appeared, 
numbering between them two thousand five hundred. Down to 
July 1836, Lockhart estimates the total sale at not less than fifty 
thousand copies. 

The Poetical Works of Miss Seward, in 3 vols., with a Prefa- 
tory Memoir of her Life by Scott, was published in the autumn of 
1810; and about this time the two first volumes of the "Edin- 
burgh Annual Register" were issued. A committee having been 
formed in London to collect subscriptions for the unfortunate Por- 
tuguese who had suffered so severely in the course of Massena's 
© disastrous campaign in 1810, Scott begged that he might be allowed 
to contribute to the funds the profit of a poem, which he proposed 
to write, connected with the localities of the patriotic struggle. 
His offer was accepted; the "Vision of Don Roderick" was 
begun, and published in a quarto volume in July 1811, the pro- 
ceeds (100 guineas) being immediately remitted to the board in 
London. The "Vision of Don Roderick" had features of novelty, 
both as to the subject and the manner of the composition, which 
excited much attention, and gave rise to some sharp controversy. 

The romance of " Rokeby" was published in a quarto volume, 
price one guinea, in December 1812. "1 well remember," writes 
Lockhart, "being in those days a young student at Oxford, how 









^& 




i 



. M?< 



'< V 



S^ 






^" 



•<r^ 




M 



^t^^^^ms^^^^M^'L^mm^. &4s$sm&m8m£&i 



:S 



1812-1814. 

the booksellers' shops there were beleaguered for the earliest 
copies, and how he that had been so fortunate as to secure one 
was followed to his chambers by a tribe of friends, all as eager to 
hear it read as ever horse-jockeys were to see the conclusion of a 
match at Newmarket ; and, indeed, not a few of these enthusiastic 
academicians had bets depending on the issue of the struggle 
which they considered the elder favourite as making to keep his 
own ground against the fiery rivalry of 'Childe Harold.'" The 
edition consisted of three thousand two hundred and fifty copies, 
of which only eighty remained unsold on the second day of pub- 
lication. " Rokeby " was followed within two months by a small 
volume, "The Bridal of Triermain. " 

Scott's Life and Edition of Swift, undertaken for Constable 
in 1808, and for which he paid the editor ^1500, was published in 
19 vols. 8vo, on the 1st of July 1814. The impression consisted 
of one thousand two hundred and fifty copies, and a second 
edition of the same number was required in 1824. The Life of 
Swift was afterwards included in the Author's Miscellanies, which 
obtained a very large circulation. 

The first volume of " Waverley," which had engaged Scott's 
attention some years previously, was begun, laid aside, and re- 
sumed, as whim or fancy dictated. He records that "he had 
written great part of the first volume, and sketched other pas- 
sages, when the MS. was mislaid, and only found by the merest 
accident in the drawers of an old cabinet." The last two volumes 
were written in three weeks, and the MS. was sent to John 
Ballantyne, a younger brother of the printer's, who copied and 
sent it to press. When the first volume was printed, it was shown 
to Constable, who proposed to give ^700 for the copyright ; 
but this offer was refused, and the work was published on the 



liiA 



'M 



fc?Q^\^>^-<?f£gALu^^ I: | 



1814-1815. 

agreement that he should divide the profits with the Great Un- 
known. 

"Waverley," in 3 vols., was published on the 7th July 1814, 
and the first edition of one thousand copies was immediately 
sold. The mystery in which the Author had chosen to shroud 
himself, together with the high literary character of the work, 
having meanwhile given rise to an intensity of interest and an 
amount of speculation hitherto unparalleled in the history of 
literature, Scott was pressed by several of his friends who were 
in the secret to own the authorship, and take to himself the laurels 
which were being freely handed about. He steadfastly refused, 
and wrote the following humorous reply to one of John Ballantyne's 
expostulations : — 

" No, John. I will not own the book — 
I won't, you Picaroon ! 
When next I try St Grubby's brook, 

The A. of Wa shall bait the hook, 

And flat-fish bite as soon 
As if before them they had got 
The worn-out rigglcr — Walter Scott." 

About forty thousand copies of "Waverley" were sold previous 
to the publication of the first uniform edition of the novels, with 
notes by the Author. 

The " Lord of the Isles," which Scott alludes to as closing his 
poetic labours upon an extended scale, was published on the 18th 
January 1815. The poem was received with an interest much 
heightened by the growing success of the mysterious "Waverley;" 
while the speculative public were bewildered by the simultaneous 
announcement of another prose work of fiction by the A. of W- — — , 
just about to be published. " Guy Mannering" — the literary re- 
sult of a six weeks' labour at Christmas — appeared on the 24th 






Ai);^.a::j'-j\L..iv-.i'.i-j>,ru'>iL-;ii^a'tua^'i--i:-i:'i':i: |vpa- 





@S®1 



^r 



=kut 



-*-- 



© 



m& 




1815-1816. 



February 1 8 15, and was received with eager curiosity; and pro- 
nounced, by universal consent, to be worthy of the Author. The 
first edition, consisting of two thousand copies, was disposed of in 
two days, and within three months, second and third editions, 
amounting to five thousand copies, were issued. 

The poem of the " Field of Waterloo" was published in 
October 1815, the profits of the first edition being the Author's 
contribution to the fund raised for the widows and orphans of the 
soldiers slain in the battle. The variety and extent of Scott's 
labours at this period is almost incredible ; his genius gushed out 
like a stream of living water. In December 1815, he wrote to Mr 
Morrit that his "literary occupation was getting through the press 
the ' Letters of Paul ; ' " which appeared in January 1816 as an 8vo 
volume, the first edition of which consisted of six thousand copies, 
followed, in the course of a few years, by second and third editions 
of three thousand. The work, avowedly by Scott, was hailed as 
a specimen of his prose writing, suggesting a comparison with 
that of the Great Unknown. 

"The Antiquary," begun towards the close of 1815, was pub- 
lished in May 1816. Six days sufficed to exhaust the edition, 
which consisted of as many thousand copies. The work attained a 
popularity not inferior to that of its predecessor. ' ' The Edinburgh 
Annual Register," published in October 1816, contains an his- 
torical sketch of the year 1814 by Scott, sufficient of itself to form 
the contents of a large volume. On the 1st of December, the first 
series of the ' ' Tales of My Landlord " appeared, but minus the now 
talismanic words, " By the Author of ' Waverley.'" This work, 
published by John Murray, was received among the higher 
literary circles with undiminished favour ; and all doubt as to 
whether these Tales proceeded from the pen of the Author of 



© 



'-£M£ 



fm 



P" 



iS&iS&iuXi; 











1817-1818. 

"Waverley" was set at rest in a week. Within the space of six 
weeks two editions of two thousand each were sold, and a third of 
an equal number put to press. 

" Harold the Dauntless, by the Author of ' Triermain,' " was 
published in January 1817. The volume had considerable success 
at the time, but the work does not rank amongst the Author's 
happiest productions. The "History of the Year 1815," by Scott, 
appeared in the "Register," published in August 1817 ; and he 
had also found time to draw up the introduction for a richly- 
illustrated quarto, "The Border Antiquities," which was issued a 
month later. 

" Rob Roy," which had been projected in May, and arranged 

for by Constable, was published in December 1817. A note 

to Ballantyne, with the last proof-sheet, displays Scott's playful 

humour : — 

" With great joy 
I send you Roy ; 
'Twas a tough job, 
But we're done with Rob." 

The allusion was doubtless to the labour, in connexion With 
his then shattered state of health. "Rob Roy" started with 
a first edition of ten thousand, and within a fortnight a second 
of three thousand more was required. Scott had scarcely com- 
pleted " Rob Roy," when he projected and arranged for the 
publication of a Second Series of the "Tales of My Landlord," in 
4 vols., in which was comprised the "Heart of Midlothian," to 
be ready by the 4th June 1818, at which date it duly appeared. 
The tragic incidents, the intense interest thrown into the circum- 
stances of the tale, the choice of the localities, brought it home to 
the heart of every inhabitant of Edinburgh, and evoked a fresh 
burst of enthusiasm. Nowhere else had the author seized such 



f 



msmsx 



'fai 




o 



fc. 



A 



m 








W-^^-fffrg^tAK^ifflE gBSSS^I 





1819-1820. 

really noble features of the national character as were canonised 
in the person of his homely heroine. 

The Third Series of the "Tales of My Landlord ".was pub- 
lished on the 10th June 1819. Scott was then confined to his room, 
having suffered severely in health for some time previous. The 
book was, therefore, received with a sad presentiment that it would 
be the last from its Author's mighty pen ; but, except in a few 
errors, the result of his inability to correct the proof-sheets, no 
one could perceive the slightest indication of his malady. Dugald 
Dalgetty was placed by acclamation in the same rank with Bailie 
Nicol Jarvie. The book was not only written but published before 
the Author was able to rise from bed. On the 18th December 
1819, the romance of " Ivanhoe" appeared, in the midst of accu- 
mulated afflictions ; the work was received in England with a more 
clamorous delight than any of the Scotch novels had been ; it 
came out in 3 vols., post 8vo, price 30s., in which original form 
twelve thousand copies were sold. As a work of art, "Ivanhoe" 
has been considered the first of all Scott's efforts. In the course 
of December 1819 and January 1820, Scott wrote three Essays 
under the title of the "Visionary," which appeared in successive 
numbers of Ballantyne's newspaper, the Weekly Journal. These 
Essays were subsequently published as a pamphlet, and had a 
wide circulation. The design was to counteract some of the 
political doctrines of the day, the spread of which filled the Tory 
party with alarm. 

The " Monastery" was published by Longman & Co. in 
March 1820. It appeared in 3 vols. i2mo, like the earlier works' 
of the series. Compared with his former brilliant productions, 
this work was regarded at the time as a comparative failure ; but 
its popularity was enhanced by the "Abbot," which followed 



R---I- M-l-l-l -■■!. I l.-f.-fTT-'Inl' I l-l'i-f i-l l-l ' FT 



W* 'l^^ii^^^^»^ist:^i^gy ^.. fvawwB ?r,: r . | HUggjg 




1 







M 



M 



1 



1821-1822. 



in September, published by the same firm, in connexion with 
Constable. 

" Kenilworth " appeared in January 1821, 3 vols, post 8vo, 
similar to " Ivanhoe," which form was adhered to in all the sub- 
sequent volumes of the series. " Kenilworth" was one of the 
most successful of all at the time of publication, and will prob- 
ably continue to hold a place in the highest rank of prose fiction. 
The tragedy of Amy Robsart is one of the deepest and most 
affecting bequeathed to posterity by the Author of " Waverley." 

Various literary matters continued to occupy Scott's attention, 
as at this period he edited a reprint of a curious old book, entitled, 
" Franck's Northern Memoir," and "The Contemplative Angler," 
and prepared for the press a volume, published soon after, under 
the title of " Chronological Notes on Scottish Affairs, 1680 to 
1701." His " Life of Smollett," prefixed to one of the volumes 
of Ballantyne's " Novelist," appeared in August. 

The splendid romance of "The Pirate" was published in 
the beginning of December 1821 ; and the wild freshness of its 
atmosphere, the beautiful contrast of Minna and Brenda, and the 
exquisitely-drawn character of Captain Cleveland, met with the 
reception they deserved. The ' ' Fortunes of Nigel " was published 
on the 30th May 1822, followed in June by the dramatic sketch of 
" Halidon Hill." For the copyright of the latter, Constable paid 
Scott the sum of £1000. "Nigel" took its place amongst the 
first of Scott's romances, and on publication was so eagerly 
sought after, that people were reading it even in the streets of 
London. At this time the profits of the Author's works were esti- 
mated at from £10,000 to £15,000 per annum, and Ballantyne's 
presses were taxed to their utmost. In addition to the ordinary 
work of the establishment, Ballantyne had at this time, on order 



.11 f I I .1 1 1 1 U-l -^.UMIdi 1:1.1 J ;|.J.J;K|. 




f-^ 



Lffi 










1 823-1 824. 

for Constable, a reprint of Scott's Poetical Works, miniature 
edition, 10 vols., five thousand copies ; Novels and Tales, 12 
vols., miniature edition, five thousand copies ; Historical Ro- 
mances, 6 vols., five thousand copies; Poetry from "Waverley," 

Vf£< mm etc., 1 vol., five thousand copies — equal to one hundred and forty- 
five thousand volumes ; to which forty thousand to fifty thousand 
may be added as the result of Scott's daily labour within the 
space of twelve months. 
1.® " Peveril of the Peak" appeared in January 1823. The work 

was at first rather coldly received, but finally pronounced not un- 
worthy of the Great Wizard's pen. ' ' Quentin Durward ' ' followed 
in June, and eventually attained great popularity. For the first 
time, Scott had, in this novel, ventured on foreign ground, and ihe 
French public were seized with a frenzy of delight, to find that Louis 
XI. and Charles the Bold had started into life again under the wand 
of the Northern Magician. The excitement in Paris equalled that at 
Edinburgh under the influence of the first appearance of ' ' Waver- 
ley," or of London, at a later period, under the spell of " Ivanhoe." 
Constable, during this year, completed the purchase from Scott 
of the copyright of the Waverley Novels, for which he had paid 
to this time the sum of ^22,000, in addition to Scott's half-share of 
profits of the early editions. The novel of "St Ronan's Well" 
was published in December 1823. Its reception in England was 
less enthusiastic than some of its predecessors ; but Scotch readers, 
dissenting from this judgment, claimed for Meg Dods a place be- 
side Monkbarns, Bailie Nicol Jarvie, and Captain Dalgetty. The 

1 V/ EjI inhabitants of Innerleithen immediately identified the most striking 
of its localities with their own village and picturesque neighbour- 
hood, and foresaw in this celebration a future of popularity for 
their long-neglected Well. 



© 



\f 



31 



■-H4 





■m 




1825-1827. 



55) 



Immediately on the conclusion of "St Ronan's Well," Sir 
Walter began the novel of " Redgauntlet," published in June 1824. 
This novel contains more of the Author's personal experiences 
than any of his previous fictions, or than all the rest of them put 
together. It was the only one produced during this year ; but 
the Author was abundantly occupied in preparing the second 
edition of Swift's Works, the additions to which were numerous. 
He corrected his notes and the Life of the Dean throughout with 
considerable care, and also wrote several reviews, and other petty 
miscellanies. Towards the end of the year the "Tales of the 
Crusaders" were begun, and were issued in June 1825. The 
brightness of the "Talisman" dazzled the eyes of the public; 
and the new burst of applause which attended the brilliant pro- 
cession of Saladin and Cceur-de-Lion considerably modified 
Scott's literary plans. The " Letters of Malachi Malagrowther " 
were published on the 1st March 1826; and on the 2d, Scott 
writes — "The First Epistle of 'Malachi' already out of print." 
"Woodstock," written during a period of great commercial 
distress, was finished in April, and published in June 1826. 
This most successful novel realised for its Author the large sum 
of £8228. 

The "Life of Bonaparte," which had been in progress during 
two years of deep affliction, was published in June 1827. Its 
contents are equal to thirteen or fourteen volumes of the Wa- 
verley Novels in their original form. The first and second 
editions produced the enormous sum of _£i8,ooo. Scott also 
at this time superintended the first collection of his Prose Mis- 
cellanies, published in 6 vols. 8vo, several articles being re- 
modelled and extended, to adapt them for a more permanent 
existence than had been originally thought of. The First Series 



■fity 



D 



-*^I 



%. 



m 




m 



r> 



\ 



^2l 



59. 



fp^ 



1827-1831. 



i:^ ' y 



\\<Mzti 



of "Chronicles of the Canongate" was published in November 
1827, but the work did not meet with the favour awarded to 
his previous writings, and Sir Walter was much discouraged. 
Yet, the wondrous power and fertility of his genius remained 
undiminished; and the First Series of "Tales of a Grandfather" 
followed in December. It met with a more rapturous recep- 
tion than any of his works since "Ivanhoe," while years only 
add to its popularity. 

The copyrights of the Waverley Novels, which had been 
disposed of, were repurchased in December, on the joint account 
of the Author and Mr Cadell, who had succeeded Constable', for 
the sum of .£8500, and arrangements were made for republishing 
the whole in a uniform size, with notes and introductions. "The 
Chronicles of the Canongate," Second Series, 3 vols. 8vo, and 
"Tales of a Grandfather," Second Series, 3 vols. i8mo, were 
both published in 1828. The " Fair Maid of Perth" was finished 
in March, and published in April of the same year. The Glee 
Maiden is a delightful sketch ; nothing can be more exquisite 
than the manner in which her story is partly told and partly 
hinted at. "Anne of Geierstein" appeared about the middle of 
May 1829, the last work of Scott's imaginative genius. The 
Third Series of "Tales of a Grandfather" appeared this year; 
and Scott's remaining labours were : — In 1829 — History of Scot- 
land, Vol. I. ; Waverley Novels, Vols. I. to VIII., with new In- 
troductions and Notes, (Monthly.) In 1830 — " Doom of Devor- 
goil " and " Auchindrane ; " "Essays on Ballad Poetry ;" "Letters 
on Demonology and Witchcraft;" "Tales of a Grandfather," 
Fourth Series; "History of Scotland," Vol. II. ; Review of 
Southey's "Life of Bunyan;" Review of Pitcairn's "Criminal 
Trials." In 1831 — " Tales of My Landlord," Fourth Series. 



X 



u 



w 



Mi 



Z02Zs5eB^?J£ 



Ei 



Wi 



a 



ABBOTffF8KIt 



S^o^d ^ 



-*& ° 



^J 



8§| } fc.-^^%J<>^^f£:BALLATrt^ 










%$;. 






a 



SlK Walter Scot t died on the 21st September 1832, and was 
interred at Dryburgh Abbey. He died at his beloved Abbotsford, 
the splendid home he had created by his own genius. Unhappily- 
severed from it for a while, he won it back by his own mighty pen; 
and the manner in which this was done redounds as much to his 
honour as his writings do to his genius. He proved that he had 
not far to seek for inspiration, but that he himself was the foun- 
tain whence he drew those high principles with which he endowed 
his heroes and heroines. His life was as noble as it was useful, 
and he did more than all her crowns and sceptres to spread the 
fame of Scotland throughout the world. 

His last words, addressed to those who loved him so dearly, 
possess a lasting interest : — 

"I am drawing near the close of my career. I have been 
perhaps the most voluminous author of the day, and it is a com- 
fort for me to think that I have tried to unsettle no man's faith, 
to corrupt no man's principles, and that I have written nothing 
which on my deathbed I should wish blotted." 

"/~^ALL it not vain ; they do not err 
^-^ Who say that when the Poet dies 
Mute Nature mourns her worshipper. 

And celebrates his obsequies ; 
Who say tall cliff and cavern lone 
For the departed Bard make moan ; 
That mountains weep in crystal rill, 
That flowers in tears of balm distil — 
Through his loved groves that breezes sigh, 
And oaks in deeper groan reply ; 
And rivers teach their rushing wave 
To murmur dirges round his grave." 
— Lay of tliv Last Minstrel. Canto v. 1-12. 



jj frl :H- kU^q^ln^kMal^H Hi^H-l J.J^Khf <fl 




fcV 




SCOTT MUNIMENT, EDINBURGH. 



Inscription placed on the Plate under the Foundation Stone, 
written by the late Lord Jejfi'ey. 

This graven plate, deposited in the base of a votive building on the fifteenth 
day of August in the year of Christ 1840, and never likely to see the light again 
till all the surrounding structures are crumbled to dust by the decay of time, 
or by human or elemental violence, may then testify to a distant posterity that 
his countrymen began on that day to raise an effigy and architectural monument 
to the Memory of Sir Walter Scott, Bart. ; whose admirable writ- 
ings were then allowed to have given more delight, _ and suggested better 
feeling to a larger class of readers in every rank of society than those of any 
other author, with the exception of Shakespeare alone, and which were there- 
fore thought likely to be remembered long after this act of gratitude on the 
part of the first generation of his admirers should be forgotten. 

He was born at Edinburgh, t$th Augicst, 1771 ; 
And Died at Abbotsford, 21st September, 1832. 



r 



i 




■ 









■ 












:.n;K. , i..:v«. 







an 
















■ ■ 

■ I 



H $$uu£M 



'tfczjjjgm 










■11] 



